1.6 MW Holly Springs Meadow community solar array powers approximately 275 Maryland homes
This 800-kilowatt (kW) carport and a 921-kW rooftop community solar project is bringing clean energy savings to 275 homes at FCP’s Holly Spring Meadows 224-apartment unit community in Forestville, MD. The arrays are generating a combined 2,120-megawatt hours of clean energy each year, equivalent to offsetting the carbon emissions of 1.6 million pounds of coal, charging 182 million smartphones for a year or the annual electricity use of nearly 300 homes.
Standard Solar acquired the project from New Columbia Solar. Approximately 50% of the on-site energy will be allocated to low- to moderate-income households.
“It means a lot when you acquire a project in your backyard that not only promotes community involvement, fostering a sense of unity, but also brings the benefits of solar power to a broader audience, and that will also help your home state reach its renewable energy goals,” said Mike Streams, Chief Development Officer for Standard Solar. “The Holly Spring Meadows solar project offsets electricity costs for residents and moves Maryland closer to meeting its goal of generating 50% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. It also advances the state toward meeting the 14.5% carve-out for solar by 2028.”
“I want to thank County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and her staff for working with the NCS team to streamline solar energy permitting in the county, which made this system possible and will enable NCS to continue to invest in solar energy systems throughout Prince George’s,” said Michael Healy, Chief Executive Officer, New Columbia Solar. “We are proud to provide clean energy to more than 275 families through the Community Solar Program while furthering Prince George’s County’s renewable energy goals.”
The Holly Spring Meadows project forwards Maryland’s growing commitment to community solar. Families are able to subscribe to the shared solar array, enabling them access to clean and affordable energy they might otherwise have access to. Subscriptions are managed by Arcadia.
“We’re thrilled to be a part of Maryland’s first community solar carport alongside New Columbia Solar, Standard Solar and Holly Spring Meadows. Not only does this project leverage the built environment to harness clean solar power, it will also deliver 50% of its output to low-to-moderate income households and affordable housing properties, helping out households for whom energy costs are a significant burden,” said Joel Gamoran, Vice President and General Manager of Energy Services at Arcadia.
The Holly Spring Meadows’s partners and community representatives, including Director Andrea Crooms, Prince George’s County Government – Department of Environment, commemorated the project’s success with a special community event that celebrated its completion. The occasion included the distribution of back-to-school backpacks and gift cards for energy use.
“FCP is thrilled to be partnering with Standard Solar in our first solar array at Holly Spring Meadows,” said FCP’s Lollie Loflin. “This community solar project supports FCP’s robust energy savings strategies and reduces the overall carbon footprint of the community. Along with the exciting news on our energy strategies, we are thrilled to send our youngest residents off to school this year with new backpacks stuffed with school supplies!”
